Stock Market & Financial Investment News

Starwood Hotels upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBSUBS upgraded Starwood Hotels following yesterday's pull back in reaction to lack of a share repurchase since the previous quarter. The analyst believes any issues that prevented buybacks last quarter will not be an issue going forward and that the strength in North America, asset sales, and improving China RevPAR will drive shares higher. Price target raised to $85 from $75.

On The Fly: Analyst Initiation SummaryToday's noteworthy initiations include: Bacterin (BONE) initiated with a Buy at H.C. Wainwright... Cognizant (CTSH) initiated with a Buy at Argus... Comerica (CMA) initiated with a Neutral at UBS... Delphi Automotive (DLPH) initiated with a Neutral at Northcoast... Dunkin' Brands (DNKN) initiated with a Neutral at UBS... Easterly Government Properties (DEA) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital... Fifth Third (FITB) initiated with a Buy at UBS... Hilton (HLT) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital... KeyCorp (KEY) initiated with a Neutral at UBS... Ligand (LGND) initiated with a Buy at CRT Capital... M&T Bank (MTB) initiated with a Neutral at UBS... MPLX (MPLX) initiated with a Hold at Evercore ISI... Marriott (MAR) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital... Nexvet Biopharma (NVET) initiated with an Outperform at JMP Securities... Regions Financial (RF) initiated with a Neutral at UBS... Shell Midstream (SHLX) initiated with a Buy at Evercore ISI... Starwood (HOT) initiated with a Sector Perform at RBC Capital... Sunoco Logistics (SXL) initiated with a Hold at Evercore ISI... Syneron Medical (ELOS) initiated with a Buy at Brean Capital... Tesoro Logistics (TLLP) initiated with a Buy at Evercore ISI... Valero Energy Partners (VLP) initiated with a Buy at Evercore ISI... Vista Outdoor (VSTO) initiated with a Buy at CRT Capital... Zions Bancorp (ZION) initiated with a Sell at UBS.

Starwood expects to grow portfolio by more than 40 new hotels across Europe Starwood announced it is on track to open more than 40 new hotels and resorts across Europe in the next five years, expanding its portfolio by almost 30% with openings in both fast-growing and established markets. Further underlining its long-term growth strategy, Starwood is set to open five new hotels in Turkey this year, including The St. Regis Istanbul which just opened on March 1. In 2014 Starwood experienced a record year of deal signings in Europe with almost 60% more signed deals than in the previous year, largely driven by conversion deals. Starwood continues to see increased interest from owners looking to maximize the value of their assets quickly, with many conversion opportunities amidst growing demand coming from the UK, Germany, France and Southern Europe. The pace of franchise deal signings is expected to continue through 2020 with developers seeing the added value Starwood’s brands deliver to their real estate strategies, particularly in mature markets such as the UK, Germany and France. In Europe, the company’s mid-market portfolio is poised to exceed 50% of Starwood’s development pipeline with more than 15 new hotel openings expected across the three brands by the end of 2017. Aloft will more than double its portfolio in Europe with hotels opening in St. Petersburg and London over the next two years, in addition to two hotels in Germany, opening this summer. Four Points by Sheraton, Starwood’s fastest growing brand will also expand in emerging markets with eight openings planned in Turkey and Russia by 2017. The eco-centric Element brand, introduced to Europe with the opening of Element Frankfurt Airport Hotel last year, will debut in Amsterdam before year-end, and become part of an Aloft and Element dual-hotel development in the historic Tobacco Dock section of East London in 2017.